Ipswich 1-3 Wigan: Match Report

15 March 2014 06:01

James McClean scored twice as Wigan made it eight straight wins in all competitions to beat Ipswich Town 3-1 at Portman Road.

The FA Cup semi-finalists kept their dream of an instant return to the Premier League well and truly alive - while inflicting a massive dent in Ipswich's own promotion hopes.

Tommy Smith had given the home side the lead, but it lasted little over two minutes as McClean equalized before Leon Barnett put Wigan ahead at the interval.

McClean made the points safe in the 76th minute, finishing off a well-worked move, to round off a great week for Uwe Rosler's men.

Ipswich made a strong start, having the first chance when Paul Anderson rose well to meet Stephen Hunt's free kick but the powerful header went narrowly over the crossbar.

Ipswich shaded the opening exchanges and Wigan keeper Ali Al-Habsi had to scurry down to his left to deny Daryl Murphy's scuffed attempt after Aaron Cresswell and Paul Anderson had combined on the left.

And the home side took a deserved lead in the 19th minute when Wigan were twice unable to clear their lines and Smith met Cole Skuse's header back in to divert the ball past the diving Al-Habsi.

But the lead lasted just 127 seconds. Emmerson Boyce released Marc-Antoine Fortune down the right and his low cross was met with clinical precision by McClean who fired the ball low past Dean Gerken.

Ipswich continued to shade the better chances and they should have taken the lead in the 39th minute.